Paeonia plant named ‘RTPIV790-01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Paeonia  cultivar named ‘RTPIV790-01’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive bright yellow, fully double, strongly fragrant flowers. Plants are vigorous, symmetrical with strong stems holding flowers above foliage, and with attractive foliage through the Fall. The new cultivar is a  Paeonia , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Paeonia lactiflora×P. lutea.

Variety denomination: ‘RTPIV790-01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a breeder program conducted by theinventor, Thierry Rat. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as‘RTPIV790-01’, was discovered as part of a planned breeding program. Theinventor, Thierry Rat crossed the seed parent Paeonia lactiflora ‘MissAmerica’, unpatented with the pollen parent, Paeonia lutea ‘GoldenIsles, unpatented,’ during May of 2006. The resulting new variety wasselected in a research nursery in Castel Sarrasin France during May of2011.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interestingselection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘RTPIV790-01’ byshoot tissue culture at a commercial laboratory in L'Assomption, Quebec,during September of 2011. The inventor continued controlled testing andpropagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of thisvariety. Several generations have been reproduced and have shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘RTPIV790-01’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘RTPIV790-01’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘RTPIV790-01’ as a new and distinct Paeonia cultivar:

-   -   1. Strong stems which hold the flowers uniquely erect and above        the foliage.    -   2. Unique bright yellow, fully double flower.    -   3. Symmetrical, bushy plant shape.    -   4. Attractive foliage through Fall.    -   5. Strong fragrance to flower.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘RTPIV790-01’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to theseed parent variety Paeonia lactiflora ‘Miss America’. Plants of the newcultivar ‘RTPIV790-01’ however, differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Miss America’ has a white, semi-double flowers, the new        variety has a bright yellow, fully double flower.    -   2. The new variety has stronger stems.    -   3. Foliage of the new variety is more finely cut.

‘RTPIV790-01’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to thepollen parent variety Paeonia lutea ‘Golden Isles’. Plants of the newcultivar ‘RTPIV790-01’ however, differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Golden Isles’ has a yellow semi-double flowers, the new        variety has a lighter yellow, fully double flower.    -   2. The new variety is a more herbaceous plant.    -   3. The new variety is more Winter hardy.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘RTPIV790-01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Paeonia‘Bartzella’ unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘RTPIV790-01’ aresimilar to plants of ‘Bartzella’ in most horticultural characteristics,as both are interspecific hybrid Peonies. Plants of the new cultivar‘RTPIV790-01’ however, produce flowers, with a less pronounced redcenter. Additionally, flowers of the new variety are more fragrant,larger, with many more petals than flowers of ‘Bartzella’. Plants of thenew variety produce more secondary flower buds than plants of‘Barzella’.

‘RTPIV790-01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Paeonia ‘MorningLilac’ unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘RTPIV790-01’ are similarto plants of ‘Morning Lilac’ in most horticultural characteristics, asboth are interspecific hybrid Peonies. Plants of the new cultivar‘RTPIV790-01’ however, produce fully double, bright yellow flowers,whereas flowers of ‘Morning Lilac’ are dark purple in color, withsignificantly less petals. Additionally, plants of the new variety havemore secondary flower buds then ‘Morning Lilac’ plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘RTPIV790-01’ grown outdoors in Moissac, France. Theplant is approximately 6 years old.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘RTPIV790-01’ plants grown outdoors inMoissac, France. Plants are approximately 1 year old, in a 2 gallonnursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesof typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Paeonia lactiflora×P. lutea ‘RTPIV790-01’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typically by shoot tissue culture.-   Root description: Freely branching storage root with numerous feeder    roots.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact and vigorous perennial herbaceous shrub.    Symmetrical and rounded growth habit.-   Height: Approximately 75 to 80 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 85 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 75 to 80 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 1 cm measured between first and second            leaf.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Internode length.—Average 10 cm, highly variable.-   Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.-   Texture: Glabrous.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 6 years.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf: Alternate, bipinnately compound, with an overall ovate shape,    which is wider than long. Average leaf 27 cm long and 40 cm wide.    Erect attitude.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Quantity and arrangement.—3 primary leaflet further divided            into secondary leaflets of variable number and form All            leaflets sessile. Average 3 to 5 secondary leaflets.        -   Average length.—Central leaflet average 16 cm.        -   Average width.—Central leaflet average 16 cm.-   Individual leaflet blades:    -   -   Shape of blade.—Broad elliptic, variably incised.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate, often with emargination.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Deeply incised.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Aspect.—Flat to very minutely reflexed downward.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Under side:            Near RHS Greyed-Green 191A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 6.5 cm. Diameter: 0.6 cm. Color:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Texture: Glabrous, moderately            glossy.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowers open approximately 60 days after    bud break in early Spring. Flowering extends over a period of 4 to 6    weeks.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Single, terminal or axilliary flowers,    fully double, irregularly rounded with tight petal whorl. Erect    flower attitude.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 8 to 12 days on the plant.-   Quantity of flowers: 2-3 per stem.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 16 to 17 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 10 cm. (Flower height).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 23 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Tight, irregular whorl of 100 to 120            petals and petaloids.        -   Size.—Length: Approximately 8 cm. Width: Approximately 6 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Entire to sinuate.        -   Apex.—Typically emarginate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous all surfaces.        -   Aspect.—Slightly ruffled, undulate.-   Color:    -   -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow 4A and            4B, base Red 42A. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 4A and 4B,            base Red 42A. Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow            4A and 4B, covered in Red 42A, creating a very bright base            Red 42A. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 4A and 4B, base Red            42A.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Type.—Stamenoidal.        -   Quantity.—Average 10 to 30, variable.        -   Size.—Length: Approximately 4.0 to 7.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Same as petals, near RHS Yellow 4A and 4B, base Red            42A.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Elongated globose.        -   Length.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5; 2 smaller and 3 larger.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 4.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Obcordate to obovate.        -   Aspect.—Cupped.        -   Apex.—Mucronate.        -   Margin.—Entire. Color Interior Surface: RHS Yellow-Green            144A. Exterior Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Fragrance: Strong.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Approximately 10 fully developed.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 60B.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elongated avoid.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 6D.        -   Pollen.—Not observed to produce pollen.-   Pistil:    -   -   Type.—Compound.        -   Number.—Average 6 carpels, variable.        -   Carpel length.—Approximately 2 to 2.5 cm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Claw shaped, acutely convex. Color: Near RHS            Yellow 3C.        -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Green 142D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor    resistant to normal diseases and pests of Paeonia lactiflora×P.    lutea.-   Temperature tolerance: Typically USDA Zones 3 to 9.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Paeonia plantnamed ‘RTPIV790-01’ as herein illustrated and described.